National Veterinary Technician Week is here!  October 11 – 17 is a week set aside to highlight and celebrate Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVT).

Who is a Registered Veterinary Technician you may ask?
RVTs are highly educated and skilled professionals who are an integral part of any veterinary health care team.  Here at Forest Hill Animal Clinic we have three RVTs, Andrea, Marina and myself.  In order to become an RVT we have had to:

• graduate from a college that is accredited by the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (OAVT)
• successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination
• complete the OAVT Professionalism and Ethics Workshop
• submit a criminal record check

In order to maintain our registration we must also, on a bi-annual basis, satisfy continuing education requirements.

 

What do we do as RVTs?  

Our education and experience has provided us with the theory and practical skills that are essential to providing the best medical support possible to the veterinarians and to your pets.   Some of the ways we assist your pet’s health care team are by:

• assessing and triaging emergencies
• obtaining and processing diagnostic radiographs
• administering & dispensing prescribed medications and treatments
• preparing your pet for surgery; this includes placing an intravenous catheter in your pet and starting him on IV fluids, inducing anesthesia, intubating him and preparing the surgical site for the veterinarian
• monitoring your pet while she is under a general anesthetic/sedation and afterwards as she awakens
• obtaining samples for laboratory testing
• performing in-clinic diagnostics such as blood chemistries, urinalysis, cytology, hematology and fecal analysis
• monitoring your pets when they are hospitalized for vomiting or diarrhea; this includes continually evaluating their condition and alerting the veterinarian to any changes, walking and feeding them, ensuring their comfort during their stay (and yes this most definitely includes lots of snuggles, if they let us!)
• performing dental charting, scaling and polishing
• assisting in surgical procedures
• restraining pets for various procedures
• ensuring sterilization and disinfection procedures are followed for prevention and control of transmissible diseases
• helping with front office procedures, answering phones, invoicing & booking appointments

The list is endless!

Registered Veterinary Technicians can do a lot!  But we by no means act alone.  We are one part of your pet’s health care team.  From the receptionists, to the animal care attendants, to the veterinarians and RVTs, we work together with you to keep your pet happy and healthy.

 

Registered Veterinary Technicians are found everywhere!

RVTs aren’t just found in small animal practices.  Depending on our field of interest we could work in research facilities, large animal practices, zoos and aquariums, animal shelters or laboratories.  RVTs are widely used as clinic managers and practice administrators.  Some of us can also be found teaching in colleges or in the industry sector as sales representatives for pet food companies and pharmaceutical companies.

RVTs also have the opportunity to specialize.  There are currently 12 National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America approved specialties that include anesthesia, clinical pathology, dental, dermatology and surgery.   These specialty RVTs are often found working in referral clinics and teaching hospitals.

 

We would like to take this opportunity to say Thank you, to you our valued clients for entrusting us with the care of your pets.  As Registered Veterinary Technicians we don’t take that trust lightly, we value it and we truly enjoy being able to help take care of your loved ones.

 

If you would like to find out more about Registered Veterinary Technicians just ask one of us!  We’d be more than happy to explain who we are, what we do and find out how we can help you and your pet.   You can also check out our provincial legislating body the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (www.oavt.org), our national association the Registered Veterinary Technologist and Technicians of Canada (www.rvttcanada.ca) and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (www.navta.net).